Automatic device for bringing hydraulic-elevator cars to the floor-level.



. I. B.- RITTER.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR BRINGING HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR GARSTO THE FLOOR LEVEL,

Patented Jan. 12, 1969.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1907.

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AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR BRINGING HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR CARS T0 THE FLOORLEVEL.

Patnted Jan. 12, 1909.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1907.

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kw m V i m I. B. BITTER. AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR BRINGING HYDRAULICELEVATOR CARS T0 THE FLOOR LEVEL.

APELIGATION FILED MAY 28, 1907. 909,675. Patented'Jan. 12. 1909.

7 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1907.

Patented Jan. 12,1909.

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LED MAY 28.1907.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR BRINGING HYDRA APPLIUA'L'WN 1' Patented Jan. 12.1909.

'7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Inventor Isaac if. Bitter Wffrzess s:

I. B. RITTER.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR BRINGING HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR CARS TO THE FLOORLEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1907.

Patented Jan. 12. 1909.

7 SHEETSSHEET G.

FIG/.11.

Witnesses:

VA. WD. 129 "Vi/ 62w rrm in W5; 9 g B 1; B. ,RITTER. AUTOMATIC DEVICEFOR BRINGING HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR GARS TO THE FLOOR LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 19.07.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

7 SHEETS-SEEET I- ZUTZM citizen of the United States, residing UNITEDSTATES PATENT (FFFFJE.

ISAAC B. BITTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

. AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR BRINGING HYDRAULIC-ELEVATQR CABS TO THEFLOOR-LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented an. 12, 1909.

Application filed May 28, 1907. Serial No. 376,118.

To all whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, Isaac B. Rrr'rnR, a at Philadelphia, in the countyof Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in an .Automatic Operating Device for Bringing ofwhich the following is a specification.

Myinvention'relates to elevators of the.

means for automatically bringing the elevator car to the floor levelwhen the car is stopped within or eight inches of the floor and also forpreventing the car moving away from the floor level due to the leakingof the valves.

My invention as generally stated consists in the employment. in additionto the main operating valve, of a supplementary valve to increase ordiminish the pressure in the main hydraulic cylinder and means for automatically operating the said supplementary valve, together with variousnovel feat'u'ies of construction and organization of parts which will behereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure l is a diagrammatic view of theelevator car operated by a plunger and illustrating the mechanismemployed in carrying out my invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly insection, of the parts A, B and C shown in Fig. l (drawn on a largerscale); Fig. 8

is a horizontal section as on line 33 Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section as on line M Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is anelevation of the parts D shown in Fig. 1 (drawn on a larger scale) Fig.6 is aside view of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a vertical section as on line 7-7Fig 5; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in adifferent position; Fig. 9 is a sectional view as on line 9-9 Fig. 5showing a link of ism consisting of a lever 3 on a shaft 1 carry-Hydraulic-Elevator Cars to the Floor-Level, I

ing wheels 5 and 6 around which passes the controlling cable 7.

' The controlling cable 7 operates the controlling valve H, more clearlyshown in Fig. 14:, which is connected by a pipe 8 with the high pressuretank 10. by a pipe 11 with the plunger cylinder G and by a pipe 12 withthe exhaust or low pressure tank let. The controlling valve H has apiston .15 operated through a rack and pinion 16 and 17 by thecontrolling cable 7.

)Vhen the piston 15 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 1% theelevator car will be at rest, when the piston 15 is lowered it willallow the water to flow from the high pressure tank 10 into the plungercylinder G and raise the car; when the piston 15 is raised the waterwill flow from the plunger cylinder G into the low pressure tank 1 1 andallow the car to. descend.

A supplementary valve F, see Figs. 1 and 11, is provided to move theplunger carrying the car, independently of the controlling valve H andthe controlling lever 3 upon the car. The supplementary valve F isconnected with the high pressure tank 10 by a.

pipe 16 and with the plunger cylinderG by the pipe 1;? and with the lowpressure tank .14 by a pipe 18. The supplementary valve F contains apiston 20 having heads-Bland 22 at either side of-the apertures for adinitting water .from the high pressure tank pressure is adfnittedbetween the said heads the piston will be balanced and will not moveexcept .by'the action of the valve stem 24. hen the piston 20 is loweredthe water from the high pressure tank 10 will flow into the plungercylinder and raise the plunger and the car; when the piston 20 is raisedthe water-will flow from the plunger cylinder into thepipe 18 leading tothe low pressure tank 14: which will allow the car to descend.

The movement of the plunger and the car which is caused by the operationof the supplementary valve F is very slight as only a movement of a fewinches will be required to bring the car to the floor level. Thesupplementary valve F is automatically brought into action by theposition of the car in the following manner:

A flexible member preferably a chain 25 is mounted on sheaves 2(5 and27, having its ends attached to the top and bottom of the car, as shownin Fig. 1. Upon the chain are projections or 'pins 28 corresponding innumber to the floors in the elevator shaft. Each projection 28 islocated so that it will be at a certain, point when the car is at thecorresponding floor level.

The pins 28 upon the chain. 25 are ongaged by aabifurcated cam member 30slidably mounted in an oscillating head 31 which is pivoted at the point32 to the back plate 33, to which are secured several of the differentparts of the mechanism and is preferably located in the basement of thebuilding.

The oscillating head 31 is connected so as to operate the supplementaryvalve F as more fully hereinafter described.

When the car is running the bifurcated member 30 is in the positionshown in Fig.

5,- and in dotted lines Fig. 1, resting upon the pins 34: and 35projecting from the back plate 33. The chain 25 carrying the pins 28 mayrun free as the car moves up or down, and the supplementary valve F willbe in a closed position, see Figs. 1 and 11, which will not change thepressure in the plunger cylinder G. I I

When the operating mechanism upon the car is brought into a position tostop the car the bifurcated member 30 is raised into the position shownin full lines Fig. 1 so as to engage one of the pins 28 on the chain 25.

The bifurcated member 30 is raised by a link 36 connected to a yoke 37slidably mounted in bearings 38 and 39 on the back plate Between thebearings 38 and 39 is a cylinder C having a piston 42 which is connectedto the yoke 37 carrying the link 36. r

The lifting cylinder (1 is controlled by a preliminary valve B which'isoperated by the controlling cable 7, see Figs. 1 and 2. A. pivoted armhaving its free end'attaehed the controlling cable 7 and having aconnecting link 44 carrying a cam to slidably mounted in a guide 46 actson a rolle 47 carried by a pivoted lever 48 which is con nected by alink 50 to the piston 51 of the valve B. I

The preliminary lifting valve B iscon- Figs. 56 and 7.

nected to the high pressure tank 10 by a pipe 52; to the liftingcylinder C by pipes 53 and 54L connected to the top and bottom of saidcylinder respectively; and to the exhaust tank by pipes When thecontrolling mechanism upon the .car is in a position to stop the car thepiston of the vplve .B will be drawn into the position shown in Figs. 1and 2, the high pressure port will then be open and also the pipe 56':leading to the bottom of the lifting cylinder G will be open so that thewater from the high pressure tank will raise the plunger 42 in thelifting cylinder C which will raise the yoke 37 carrying the bifurcatedmember 30 so that the latter will'engage a pin 28 on the chain 25. Thuswhenever the controlling cable is brought to a position to stop the carthe bifurcated member will be raised.

The bifurcated member 30 above stated is slidably mounted in anoscillating head 31 pivotedto the back-plate 33, as shown in Thisoscillating head 31 is connected by a link 56 to a lever 57 pivoted at:78 to the frame 60. a guide for the sliding cam (31, see l and ll,which acts on a roller 62 on the valve stem 2% of the supplementaryvalve F. An arm 63 is provided to hold the roller 62 in place. The saidarm 63 is pivoted in the frame 60 at the point 6-1 The pivot point ofthe arm (33 may be va ried to change the radius of the are through whichthe. roller ($2 travels, which will increase or diminish the speed ofthe movement of the piston of the supplementary valve F. iy raising thepivot point of the arm the piston will act slower and by lowering thesaid arm the piston will act. quicker.

.lVhen the car is stopped directly at the floor level the correspondingpin on the chain will be on the vertical center line of the sheavescarrying the chain 253. lVhen the bifurcated member 30 is then raised itwill find the pin without being forced by the pin of its normal positioncausing the oscillating head to move the lever 57 and operate the cam 61to lower the piston of the valve F which will allow the water from. thehigh pressure tank to flow into the plunger cylinder and raise the -caruntil the car is in such a position that the pin on the chain 25 will bemoved back to the central position, which will allow the bifurcatedmember to assume its normal position as shown in Fig. 1, which willclose the valve F and allow the car to remain at the floor level.

' Should the controlling valve ll leak the car will move away from thefloor level, but as a veryslight movement of the carin either directionwill be suflicient to move the chain and shift the bifurcated member andoperate the supplementary valve F, the car will be brought back to thefloor level automatically. Thus the labor and expense of keeping thepacking of the controlling valve in perfect condition is overcome.

When the, operating mechanism upon the car is shifted to start the carin either direction the bifurcated member will be dropped out of actionof the pin on the chain so that the chain can run free. This is done bythe controlling cable 7 shifting the cam 45, which will move thepreliminary valve B into a position to empty the lifting cylinder C,thus allowing the bifurcated member to fall. The bifurcated member willrest upon the pins 34- and 35 on'the back plate so that it will normallyrest in a vertical position which will close the supplementary valve F.

Should the controlling mechanism upon the car.be brought to a positionto stop the car when the car is midway between the floors the bifurcatedmember will be raised but it will not find a pin on the chain 25. \Vhenthe car is stopped close to the floor line, say within eight or teninches above or 1 below the floor, the pin on the chain will be withinreach of the arms all of the bifurcated member. The arms 41 will act asa cam surface as they contact with the pinion the chain and thebifurcated member will be moved to one side of its central positionwhich will tausc the supplementary valve to open. f

The lifting cylinder C will continue to i hold one of the arms 41- ofthe bifurcated member against the pin on the chain as long as thecontrolling lever on the car is in a. position to stop the car. Thesupplementary valve F will remain open until the car is moved in theproper direction towards the floor level which will cause the pin on thechain to move towards the center line of the sheave. \Vhcn the pinreaches the center line of the sheave the bifurcated membcr can beraised by the lifting cylinder C to its highest position so that theslot 40 between the arms of the bifurcated member will cmbrace the pin.By having the pin enter the vertical slot :10 formed in the bifurcatedmember, the movement of the latter will be more sensitive and there willbe less lost motion than there would be if the pin acted against theoblique surface of the arms ll of the bifurcated member. v

The bifurcated member 30 has links and 66 pivotally connected to theouter end of the. arms 41,which links are guidedby pins 67 and 68projecting from the back plate 33. Said pins are adapted to enterelongated slots formed in said links (55 and 66. These links direct thepins 28 on the chain 25 into the bifurcated member 30 and also reventthe possibilit of the bifurcated memlier getting out of place whichmight allow a pin 28 to pass outside of the arms 41- in case thebifurcated cam member 30 should not resume its normal position.

The manner of attaching the projections -or pins 28 to the flexiblemember or chain .25 is illustrated in Figs. 9' and 10. The pin 28 has acentral portion which is square and which fits against the edges of theside- )lates 70 and 71 forming a link. This pin is held-in place by abolt 72 having a head 73 which extends between the two side plates ofthe link with its under surface curved so as .to fit into the curvedportion of the side. plates 70 and 71 forming the chain.

Havin thus described my invention 1 claim an desire to secure by LettersPatent.

1. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve, a supplementary valve, means for operating said supplementaryvalve to raise or lower said car independently of said controllingvalve.

2. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve, means upon said car to operate said controlling valve, asupplementary valve, and means for automatically operating saidsupplementary valve to raise or lower the car and bring the same to thefloor level.

3. An elevator comprising in its construc tion a car, a controllingvalve, means upon the car to operate said controlling valve, a,supplementary valve, and means for operat ing said supplementary valveto raise or lower the car when the said controlling valve is in aposition to stop the car.

4. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve. means upon the car to operate said controlling valve, asupplementary valve, means for operating said supplementary valve whensaid controlling valve is in a position to stop the car, and meanscontrolled by the position of the car to actuate said supplementaryvalve to bring the car to the floor level.

5. An elevator comprising in its construc tion a car, a controllingvalve, a supplemcntarymalvc. a flexible member coupled with andcontrolled by the movements of said car, and means actuated by saidflexible member for operating said supplementary valve.

6. An elevator comprising in its construe-- tion a car. a controllingvalve, a supplementary valve, a flexible member coupled with andcontrolled by the movements of said car. projections on said flexiblememher, a bifurcated member for engaging one of said projections andmeans for connecting said bifurcated member with said supplenientaryvalve to actuate the latter.

7. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve, a controlling cable, a supplementaryvalve, a flexible mem- I tobring said b furcated member into enber coupled to said car, aprojection on said flexible member, a bifurcated member connected withand adapted to operate said suppleinentary valve and means for bringingsaid bifurcated member Within the line of travel of said projection onsaid flexible member when said controlling valve is in a position tostop the car.

8. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve, a controlling cable, a supplementary valve, a flexible membercoupled with said car, a projection on said flexible member, a cammember connected with and adapted to actuate said supplementary valve, alifting cylinder to bring 1 t io bring said bifurcated member intoensaid bifurcated member into engagement With'said projection on saidflexible member and means for controlling said lifting cylinder.

9. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve, a controlling cable, a supplementary valve, a flexible membercoupled with said car, projections on said flexible member, a biturcated member connected with and adapted to actuate said supplementaryvalve, a lifting cylinder to bring said bifurcated member intoengagement with a projection on said flexible member, a preliminaryvalve to control said lifting cylinder and means for operating saidpreliminary valve.

10. An. elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve, a controlling cable, a supplementary valve, a flexible membercoupled with said car, projections on said flexible member, a bifurcatedmember connected with and adapted to actuate said supplementary valve, alifting cylinder to bring said bifurcated member into engagement with aprojection on said flexible inen'iber, a preliminary valve to controlsaid lifting cylinder and means for operating said preliminary valve bythe movements of said controlling cable.

l1. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve, a controlling cable, a su 'ipleincutary valve, a flexible membercoupled with said car, projections on said flexible member,abifurcateifl member connected withand adapted to actuate saidsupplementary valve, a lifting cylinder, :1, piston in the saidcylinder, a yoke carried by said piston, a link connecting said yoke andsaid bifurcated'incnibci. bearings in which said yoke slides. a]ii'tlll'iIlIl:1l V valve to control said lifting \lllitl l',t1ll(lmeans for operating said preliminary valve by the 3 i said flexiblemember and engage the said movements of the controlling cable.

12. An GlOVfllOl' comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve, a controlling cable, a supplementary valve, a flexible membercoupled with said ca'r, projections on said flexible member, abifurcated member connected with and adapted to actuate saidsupplei'nentary valve, a lifting cylinder 13. An elevator comprising inits construction a car, a controlling valve, a controlling cable. asupplementary valve, a flexible member coupled with said car, proections on said flexible member, a bifurcated member connected with andadapted to actuate said supplementary valve, a lifting cylinder gugementwith a projection on said flexible member, a preliminary valve connectedwith said lifting cylinder to control the same, a piston in saidpreliminary valve, a lever havinga roller, a link between said lever andsaid piston, a. cam to engage said roller, and means for connecting saidcam with said controlling cable.

l t. An elevator comprising in its construction a car,a controllingvalve, a supplementary valve, a counter-balanced sheave at the top ofthe elevator shaft, a sheave located at the bottom of the elevatorshaft, a flexible member passing around said sheaveshaving its cndsattached to the top and. bottom of the car respectively, said flexiblemember having projections thereon, a cam member for engaging saidprojections and means for connecting said cam member with saidsupplementary 'alvc to actuate the latter.

15. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllinvalve, a supplementary valve, :1 chain, said chain having linksl'oi-iued of two side plates, a pin having its central portion bearingagainst each of said side plates, said pin projecting beyond the sidesof said chain, a bolthaving an enlarged head adapted to bear against;said side plates and ada' 'ited to pass through said pin and secure tlie'same to said side plates, a bifurcated member adapted to engagesaidpin, and means for connecting said bifurcated member with saidsupplementary valve to actuate the latter.

in. \n elevator comprising in its construction a car. a supplementaryvalve, a prelimi nary valve, a flexible member coupled with said car.pins carried by said flexible membeiand projecting from either side ofthe same. a bifurcated member consisting of duplicate plates adapted topass outside of pins projecting beyond the sides of said flexiblemember, and means for connecting {ion a car, a controlling valve,

said bifurcated member with said supplementary valve to aetuatethelatter.

1?. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controliingvalve, a supplemenmounted and means for connecting said oscillating headwith" said supplementary valve to actuate the latter.

18. An elevator comprisingin its construction a car, a controllingvalve, a supplementary valve, a flexible member coupled with said car,pins on said flexible member, a bifurcated member for engaging one ofsaid pins, links pivoted to the ends of the arms of said bifurcatedmember, pins over which said links are slidably mounted, an'oscillatinghead in which bifurcated member is mounted and means for connectin saidoscillating head with said supp ementary valve to actuate the latter.

19. An elevator comprisingin its construction a car, a controllingvalve,

a supplementary valve, a flexible member coupled with said car, pins onsaid flexible member, a bifurcated, member for engaging one of saidpins, said bifurcated member having a ver: tical slot formed therein toembrace the pin carried by said flexible member, a back plate on whichsaid bifurcated member is pivotally mounted and means for connectingsaid oscillating head with said supplementary valve to actuate the same.

20. An elevator comprising in its construca supplemenmry valve, aflexible member coupled with 4) said car, pins on said flexible member,a

bifurcated member for engaging one of said pins, an oscillating head inwhich said bifurcated member is mounted, a back plate, pins projectingfrom said back plate upon which said bifurcated member may rest, andmeans for connecting said oscillating head with said supplementary valveto actuate the same.

21. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve, a supplemen tary valve, a flexible member coupled with said car,pins on said flexible member, a bifurcated member for engaging one ofsaid pins, an oscillating head in which said bifurcated member ismounted, a cam, a pivoted lever connected at oneend to said cam andatthe opposite end to said oscillating head, a roller adapted to beacted on by said cam, and a piston in said supplementary valve operatedby said roller. f

22. An elevator comprising in its construction a car, a controllingvalve, a supplementary valve, a flexible member coupled with said car,pins on said flexible member, a bifurcated member for engaging one ofsaid pins, an oscillating head in which said bifurcated member ismounted, a sliding cam, a lever connecting said cam with said oscllating head, a guide for said sliding -cam', a roller, a piston in saidsupplementary valve operated by said roller, an arm connected at one endto said roller and pivoted at its other end to said guide and means foradjusting the pivot point of said arm.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature I in presence of twowitnesses.

- ISAAC B. BITTER.

Witnesses HOWARD S. GOODMAN, EMERSON R. HALDEMAN.

